Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
241 PM EST Thu Nov 7 2019
...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...
...CORRECTED FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS...
...Climate Summary for October...
...4th Warmest October on Record at Columbia...
...6th Warmest October on Record at Augusta...
...Rainfall Closer to Normal Across the Region..
...Remnants of Tropical Storm Nestor Bring Much Needed
Rainfall to the State on the 19th - 20th...
...October Ends on a Stormy Note with an EF-1 Tornado in
Lexington County...
October began with temperatures in the triple digits and drought
worsening across the region. However, by the middle of the
month, rainfall became more plentiful and temperatures moderated
closer to normal. The remnants of Tropical Storm Nestor, which
formed in the southwest Gulf of America on the 17th, moved northeast
and brought widespread steady rainfall to the region. Rainfall
amounts ranged from 1 to 4 inches. The heaviest rain fell over the
Lowcountry. The month ended on a stormy note with a strong cold
front crossing the region on the night of Halloween. The front
produced strong damaging winds across much of the Midlands and
Central Savannah River Area. One particularly severe storm spawned
an EF-1 tornado in Lexington County between the towns of Gilbert and
Lexington.
.Augusta Average Temperatures...
The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for October
was 70.6 degrees or 6.2 degrees above the normal of 64.4 degrees. It
was the 6th warmest October on record at Augusta.
Here are the top 6 warmest October months on record:
1. 74.9 degrees in 1919
2. 72.9 degrees in 1941
3. 71.9 degrees in 1984
4. 71.2 degrees in 1884
5. 70.9 degrees in 1881
6. 70.6 degrees in 2019 and 1985
.Columbia Average Temperatures...
The average temperature at Columbia Metro Airport for October was
70.1 degrees or 6.0 degrees above the normal of 64.1 degrees. It was
the 4th warmest September on record at Columbia.
Here are the top 5 warmest October months on record:
1. 73.9 degrees in 1919
2. 72.2 degrees in 1941
3. 70.4 degrees in 1984
4. 70.1 degrees in 2019
5. 69.8 degrees in 1971
.Augusta Rainfall...
Augusta Bush Field received 4.12 inches of rainfall during October,
0.85 inches above the normal of 3.27 inches.
.Columbia Rainfall...
Columbia Metro Airport received 2.36 inches of rainfall during
October, 0.81 inches below the normal of 3.17 inches.
Here are some of the highest/lowest NWS Coop Observer monthly
rainfall totals for October 2019:
PASS1 Fairfield Pump and Storage...5.24 inches
LNCG1 Lincolnton..................5.23 inches
WYNG1 Waynesboro..................4.99 inches
JOHS1 Johnston 4 SW...............2.61 inches
BLYS1 Cedar Creek.................2.83 inches
CHDS1 Clarks Hill.................2.85 inches
Here are some of the highest/lowest CoCoRaHS Observers monthly
rainfall totals for October 2019:
SC-RC-1 Dentsville 6.6 NNE.......7.11 inches
SC-SL-9 Saluda 0.6 NNE...........5.82 inches
SC-LX-49 Chapin 1.3 SSE...........5.52 inches
GA-BK-1 Waynesboro 3.3 SW........5.46 inches
GA-CU-9 Appling 2.0 SE...........4.90 inches
GA-MD-5 Thomson 2.6 S............4.81 inches
Highest Wind Gusts at ASOS Sites During October:
Columbia Metro Airport (CAE)..........48 mph on the 31st
Orangeburg County Airport (OGB).......41 mph on the 31st
Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)............32 mph on the 31st
Augusta Bush Field (AGS)..............32 mph on the 16th and 31st
Columbia Hamilton Owens Field (CUB)...26 mph on the 16th
*Wind Gust Missing at CUB from the 31st
Highest Wind Gusts on the area lakes during October:
Lake Thurmond Dam (CHDS1).............
Lake Murray Towers USGS (IRMS1).......38 mph on the 5th
Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)...33 mph on the 12th
Lake Thurmond Dam (CHDS1).............32 mph on the 13th
Lake Wateree Dam (WATS1)..............28 mph on the 5th
Lake Murray Water Temperatures (near surface) at The Towers for
October:
Warmest...83.7F on the 4th
Coolest...71.0F on the 26th
Temperature/Precipitation Records Tied or Broken during the month
of October:
Augusta...
10/1 - Tied the maximum temperature of 93 degrees set in 1986.
10/2 - Maximum temperature reached 96 degrees. Previous record
was 93 degrees set in 1986.
10/3 - Maximum temperature reached 100 degrees. Previous record
was 94 degrees set in 1986.
10/4 - Maximum temperature reached 101 degrees. Previous record
was 97 degrees set in 1954.
10/13 - Tied the maximum temperature of 89 degrees set in 2014.
Columbia...
10/1 - Minimum temperature was 74 degrees. Previous maximum
lowest temperature was 73 degrees set in 1971.
10/2 - Maximum temperature was 97 degrees. Previous record
was 95 degrees set in 1986.
10/3 - Minimum temperature was 72 degrees. This tied the maximum
lowest temperature set in 1941, 1927 and 1898.
10/3 - Maximum temperature was 100 degrees. Previous record
was 95 degrees set in 1986.
10/4 - Minimum temperature was 73 degrees. Previous maximum
lowest temperature was 72 degrees set in 2007.
10/4 - Maximum temperature was 100 degrees. Previous record
was 97 degrees set in 1954.
Events...
October 17th - Cold Canadian high pressure built in across the
region behind a cold front. This produced morning low temperatures
in the upper 30s to lower 40s across much of the Midlands and CSRA.
Here is a list of some of the coldest morning temperatures:
Location Temp Time/Date Provider
Cedar Crk 38 F 0800 AM 10/17 COOP
Elgin 39 F 0743 AM 10/17 CWOP
Lancaster 39 F 0755 AM 10/17 AWOS
2 ESE Saluda 39 F 0725 AM 10/17 AWS
Saluda 40 F 0810 AM 10/17 CWOP
Graniteville 40 F 0816 AM 10/17 CWOP
Fort Mill 40 F 0821 AM 10/17 CWOP
Pinewood 40 F 0800 AM 10/17 CWOP
0.9 NE Lincolnton 40 F 0800 AM 10/17 COOP
Mccrady Training Center 40 F 0833 AM 10/17 RAWS
Spring Hill 40 F 0800 AM 10/17 RCWINDS
Dutch Fork High School 40 F 0800 AM 10/17 RCWINDS
Bear Creek 40 F 0800 AM 10/17 RCWINDS
Blythewood Fire Station 40 F 0800 AM 10/17 RCWINDS
Gilbert 41 F 0801 AM 10/17 CWOP
0.6 S Saluda 41 F 0800 AM 10/17 COOP
Cane Creek Fire Station 41 F 0800 AM 10/17 RCWINDS
Red Bank area 42 F 0754 AM 10/17 CWOP
Wedgefield 42 F 0700 AM 10/17 CWOP
Lexington 42 F 0815 AM 10/17 CWOP
Peak 42 F 0816 AM 10/17 CWOP
North Augusta 42 F 0757 AM 10/17 CWOP
Mcentire Ang 42 F 0656 AM 10/17 AWOS
Long Cane 42 F 0812 AM 10/17 RAWS
Savriv 42 F 0807 AM 10/17 RAWS
Newberry 42 F 0755 AM 10/17 AWS
Newberry (WEATHERSTEM) 43 F 0810 AM 10/17 MESOWEST
1.6 E Dyson 43 F 0800 AM 10/17 COOP
Orangeburg 43 F 0756 AM 10/17 CWOP
Pinewood 43 F 0800 AM 10/17 CWOP
Columbia 43 F 0800 AM 10/17 CWOP
Heath Springs 43 F 0750 AM 10/17 AWS
Carolina Sandhills 43 F 0714 AM 10/17 RAWS
Aiken 43 F 0755 AM 10/17 AWOS
Cheraw 43 F 0755 AM 10/17 AWOS
Thomson-Mcduffie County Airp 43 F 0815 AM 10/17 AWOS
Santee Cooper Region Arpt 43 F 0815 AM 10/17 AWOS
Sumter Municipal Airport 43 F 0755 AM 10/17 AWOS
10/31 - A vigorous cold front moved across the region during
overnight hours of Halloween. A line of strong to severe
thunderstorms developed ahead of the main cold front and moved
across the Central Savannah River Area and Midlands during the late
afternoon hours into the early evening hours. The line produced
strong damaging winds and a tornado that touched down in Lexington
County. There were numerous reports of downed trees, power lines
and large limbs across much of the area.
Here is a summary of the damage that the tornado produced from the
NWS Storm Survey Team that surveyed the damage.
...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 10/31/2019 TORNADO EVENT...
...Multiple Touchdowns EF1 Tornado Lexington County...
...Tornadoes Touch Down Three Times In Just Over 8 Miles from Same
Supercell...
...Touchdown near Roy Steele Road and Crosby Road...
Start Location...2 NE Gilbert in Lexington County SC End
Location...3 NE Gilbert in Lexington County SC Date...11/01/2019
Estimated Time...05:59 PM EDT Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF1
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...95 mph Maximum Path Width...50 yards
Path Length...1.14 miles Beginning Lat/Lon...33.9355 / -81.3702
Ending Lat/Lon...33.9427 / -81.3526
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0
...Summary... A tornado touched down near the intersection of Roy
Steele Road and Crosby Road just northeast of the town of Gilbert.
It moved quickly to the northeast at nearly 50 mph. It ended near
the intersection of Drawbill Road and Austin McCartha Road. Much of
the damage was confined to trees that were both hardwood and
softwood. The tornado downed large tree limbs, uprooted a tree and
snapped a couple of soft wood trees approximately 20 to 30 feet off
the ground. The strong winds blew a piece of sheet metal that
wrapped itself around a tree trunk.
..Touchdown between Olde Farm Road and Rabbit Road...
Start Location...5 WNW Red Bank in Lexington County SC End
Location...4 WSW Lexington in Lexington County SC Date...11/01/2019
Estimated Time...06:02 PM EDT Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF1
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...95 mph Maximum Path Width...100.0
yards Path Length...0.47 miles Beginning Lat/Lon...33.9596 / -
81.3109 Ending Lat/Lon...33.9634 / -81.3041
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0
...Summary... This is the location of the most widespread tree
damage and strongest winds. The tornado once again touched down near
Clinton Sease Farms along Olde Farm Road. The tornado continued
northeast and uprooted and snapped nearly two dozen trees between
Olde Farm Road and Rabbit Road. A small wood building at the farm
lost a good portion of its metal roof. The tornado ended just as it
crossed Rabbit Road.
..Brief Touchdown near the intersection of Dreher Street and Harmon
Street...
Start Location...Lexington in Lexington County SC End
Location...Lexington in Lexington County SC Date...11/01/2019
Estimated Time...06:09 PM EDT Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF0
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...85 mph Maximum Path Width...50.0
yards Path Length...0.07 miles Beginning Lat/Lon...33.9873 / -
81.2306 Ending Lat/Lon...33.9879 / -81.2297
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0
...Summary... The final touchdown occurred near the Lexington Middle
School near the intersection of Dreher Street and Harmon Street. A
large hardwood tree broke and took down a power line. A small
hardwood tree was snapped about 30 feet off the ground. There were
several large limbs that came down on a power line along Harmon
Street. Portions of a wooden fence were blown over behind a home
along Dreher Street.
EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:
EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph
* The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS
Storm Data.
YEAR TO DATE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION STATISTICS...
COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2018/2019 MONTHLY AVERAGE
TEMPERATURES AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL...
AVG HIGH/DEP AVG LOW/DEP AVG TEMP NORM DEPARTURE
JAN 2018 55.5/-0.5 30.5/-3.2 43.0 44.8 -1.8
FEB 70.1/+9.8 49.6/+12.8 59.8 48.5 +11.3
MAR 65.8/-2.4 42.5/-0.5 54.2 55.6 -1.4
APR 75.1/-1.2 49.4/-1.0 62.3 63.4 -1.1
MAY 87.3/+1.4 66.5/+7.0 76.9 71.7 +5.2
JUN 93.8/+3.8 71.7/+3.5 82.8 79.1 +3.7
JUL 93.5/+0.8 73.5/+1.9 83.5 82.2 +1.3
AUG 92.9/+2.2 72.7/+1.7 82.8 80.8 +2.0
SEP 91.2/+6.0 72.6/+8.4 81.9 74.7 +7.2
OCT 79.6/+3.5 57.5/+5.4 68.5 64.1 +4.4
NOV 62.3/-5.0 43.2/+0.9 52.8 54.8 -2.0
DEC 58.5/+0.3 39.2/+3.9 48.8 46.7 +2.1
Annual 77.1/+1.6 55.7/+3.3 66.4 63.9 +2.5
JAN 2019 57.7/+1.7 36.3/+2.6 47.0 44.8 +2.2
FEB 65.1/+4.8 41.2/+4.4 53.2 48.5 +4.7
MAR 67.4/-0.8 42.7/+0.3 55.1 55.6 -0.5
APR 77.9/+1.6 52.7/+2.3 65.3 63.4 +1.9
MAY 89.2/+5.4 65.4/+5.9 77.3 71.7 +5.6
JUN 88.9/-1.1 68.2/ 0.0 78.5 79.1 -0.6
JUL 93.2/+2.9 72.2/+0.6 82.7 82.2 +0.5
AUG 92.5/+1.8 72.1/+1.1 82.3 80.8 +1.5
SEP 93.0/+7.8 68.9/+4.7 80.9 74.7 +6.2
OCT 82.0/+5.9 58.3/+6.2 70.1 64.1 +6.0
AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2018/2019 MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL...
AVG HIGH/DEP AVG LOW/DEP AVG TEMP NORM DEPARTURE
JAN 2018 57.1/-0.8 29.2/-3.6 43.1 45.4 -2.3
FEB 71.6/+9.3 48.4/+12.5 60.0 49.1 +10.9
MAR 67.7/-2.2 41.2/-1.4 54.5 55.9 -1.4
APR 75.1/-2.2 46.1/-2.0 60.6 62.7 -2.1
MAY 86.4/+1.4 61.5/+4.2 74.0 71.1 +2.9
JUN 92.2/+1.2 68.7/+2.5 80.5 78.6 +1.9
JUL 91.2/-2.2 70.9/+1.1 81.0 81.6 -0.6
AUG 92.4/+0.6 70.4/+1.1 81.4 80.5 +0.9
SEP 92.4/+5.7 70.4/+7.8 81.4 74.6 +6.8
OCT 80.6/+2.9 56.7/+4.3 68.7 64.4 +4.3
NOV 64.3/-4.8 43.3/+1.9 53.8 55.2 -1.4
DEC 61.1/+1.1 40.5/+6.0 50.8 47.2 +3.6
Annual 77.7/+0.8 53.9/+2.9 65.8 63.9 +1.9
JAN 2019 60.7/+2.8 37.4/+4.6 49.1 45.4 +3.7
FEB 68.4/+6.1 43.2/+7.3 55.8 49.1 +6.7
MAR 71.2/+1.3 42.8/+0.8 57.0 55.9 +1.1
APR 80.0/+2.7 52.1/+4.0 66.0 62.7 +3.3
MAY 91.0/+6.0 64.1/+6.8 77.5 71.1 +6.4
JUN 90.7/-0.3 67.6/+1.4 79.2 78.6 +0.6
JUL 96.3/+2.9 71.1/+1.3 83.7 81.6 +2.1
AUG 93.7/+1.9 71.5/+2.2 82.6 80.5 +2.1
SEP 93.7/+7.0 66.8/+4.2 80.2 74.6 +5.6
OCT 83.3/+5.6 58.0/+7.0 70.6 64.4 +6.2
COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2018/2019 MONTHLY/YEARLY
PRECIPITATION...
TOTAL NORMAL DEPARTURE
(INCHES)
JAN 2018 2.42 3.58 -1.16
FEB 1.61 3.61 -2.00
MAR 2.97 3.73 -0.76
APR 3.10 2.62 +0.48
MAY 2.76 2.97 -0.21
JUN 3.45 4.69 -1.24
JUL 3.68 5.46 -1.78
AUG 3.25 5.26 -2.01
SEP 6.09 3.54 +2.55
OCT 6.36 3.17 +3.22
NOV 6.55 2.74 +3.81
DEC 7.25 3.22 +4.03
Annual 49.52 44.59 +4.93
JAN 2019 3.07 3.58 -0.57
FEB 0.88 3.61 -2.73
MAR 2.61 3.73 -1.12
APR 2.86 2.62 +0.24
MAY 2.35 2.97 -0.62
JUN 8.03 4.69 +3.34
JUL 4.50 5.46 +0.96
AUG 1.40 5.26 -3.86
SEP 1.95 3.54 -1.59
OCT 2.36 3.17 -0.81
AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2018/2019 MONTHLY/YEARLY PRECIPITATION...
TOTAL NORMAL DEPARTURE
(INCHES)
JAN 2018 2.09 3.91 -1.82
FEB 1.57 3.92 -2.35
MAR 3.21 4.18 -0.97
APR 3.47 2.84 +0.63
MAY 8.21 2.65 +5.56
JUN 5.19 4.72 +0.47
JUL 3.13 4.33 -1.20
AUG 4.28 4.32 -0.04
SEP 7.19 3.22 +3.97
OCT 4.58 3.27 +1.31
NOV 5.98 2.82 +3.16
DEC 5.94 3.39 +2.55
Annual 54.84 43.57 +11.27
Jan 2019 4.40 3.91 +0.49
FEB 1.14 3.92 -2.78
MAR 2.23 4.18 -1.95
APR 3.01 2.84 +0.17
MAY 3.70 2.65 +1.05
JUN 6.45 4.72 +1.73
JUL 1.39 4.33 -2.94
AUG 12.92 4.32 +8.60
SEP 0.77 3.22 -2.45
OCT 4.12 3.27 +0.85
The 3-Month Outlook for Fall/Winter
(November/December/January)...
The outlook calls for a 40 to 50 percent chance of above normal
temperatures with equal chance of above, below and normal rainfall.
Go to the Climate Prediction Center web page at
www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov for more details and the latest outlooks.
ENSO (EL NINO SOUTHERN OSCILLATION)...
ENSO-neutral conditions are present.
Equatorial sea surface temperatures are above average from the
western to east-central Pacific Ocean and are below average in the
far eastern Pacific.
ENSO-neutral is favored during the Northern Hemisphere fall 2019,
continuing through spring 2020. There is an 85 percent chance for
ENSO-neutral through the Fall and a 55 to 60 percent chance that it
will continue into the spring.
Climate Outlooks and ENSO Discussions courtesy of NOAA Climate
Prediction Center...www.cpc.noaa.gov .
Note...much appreciation goes out to our NWS Cooperative Weather
Observers...CoCoRaHS (Community...Collaborative...Rain...Hail and
Snow Network) Observers...South Carolina State Climate Office...
Southeast Regional Climate Center...Richland County Emergency
Services...USGS and local weather partners for the data they provide
throughout the year. Their hard work and dedication is greatly
appreciated.
Temperature records for Columbia go back to 1887 and for Augusta
back to 1873. Precipitation records for Columbia go back to 1878
and for Augusta back to 1871.
Additional climate information, including current and archived
daily and monthly summaries, can be found on the National Weather
Service Columbia SC home page at http://www.weather.gov/cae .
$$
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